Containing over 2,000 individual glyphs, this monumental staircase records the dynastic history of Copán's rulers over several centuries.

Copán's artisans took advantage of local volcanic tuff, a stone soft enough to carve in high relief that hardened upon exposure to the air.

The bird's brilliant red, yellow, and blue feathers were thought to resemble solar fire, connecting it to the Maya sun deity Kinich Ahau.

The residents burned vast tracts of timber to produce lime plaster for their monuments, triggering severe soil erosion and agricultural failure.